2009
Ring Ring
Anaheim speaking…
Hi, this is San Jose calling, we just wanted to let you know – we have your number.
Since the Ducks handed the Sharks playoff defeat last April, San Jose has obliterated Anaheim in the first four meetings this season.
The Sharks have outscored the Ducks 16-6.
Dominating play by the Sharks all around has kept the Ducks off the scoresheet and down in the Western Conference standings.
The usual match-up between Joe Thornton and Ryan Getzlaf has been completely one sided this season. In the division match-up, Thornton has 11 points (4-7=11), Patrick Marleau has seven points (4-3=7), and Dany Heatly has seven points (2-5=7). That line has combined for more half of the goals scored against Anaheim this season.
Meanwhile the Ducks top line of Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan have two goals in the four games combined.
While it’s obvious that San Jose is winning the offensive battle, it’s the defensive battle that is really hurting the Ducks. While this is true of any opponent the Ducks have faced this season, it seems that the Sharks have exploited every possible hole in the Ducks very weak defense.
While the Ducks continually chase both the Sharks and the puck all over the ice, San Jose always makes the most of their opportunities. They get to lose pucks quicker, they clear the zone better, and they pass the puck smoother. Meanwhile, Anaheim plays dump and chase rarely recovering the puck when they battle along the boards.
Fans can forget that physical domination from the Ducks that they once knew. San Jose is a stronger more physical team than many will remember and they clearly have no problem handing the Ducks a taste of their own medicine.
With two games remaining in this Pacific Division battle, the Ducks will need to find a way to get behind the defensive wall the Sharks have built in front of their already stellar netminder, Evgeni Nabokov. Anaheim will have to rely on their top offensive line to bust through that wall if they want to take any points from San Jose this season.
Something to ponder…
Getzlaf left the game during the second period because of a leg laceration. While initial reports indicate that he is not seriously injured, and will likely be listed day-to-day, this brings up the injury report.
Are the Ducks struggles a direct cause and effect from their constant injury issues?
Since Ryan Carter‘s departure from the line-up in early November, the Ducks have been battling through the loss of his centermen duties as well as Joffrey Lupul (back), Teemu Selanne (hand), and Kyle Calder (eye) who recently returned to the line-up.
Do you think that if the Ducks were able to stay healthy through the first three moths of the season, they would be in a better position in the standings?
My overwhelming feeling to this question is YES.
While Carter isn’t a pivotal player in terms of offense, his defensive duties and penalty killing time was a huge benefit to the Ducks. As for both Lupul and Selanne, having them both healthy for a longer stretch of time would mean a better chance for the team to grow together in terms of chemistry as well as to help create defined scoring lines. Since these players have been out for such long periods of time, it’s become essential for coach Randy Carlyle to play juggle with his top two lines on a nightly basis.
The question remains…
Will the return of those players make a positive impact? Or will it cause more confusion in the line-up?
While the Ducks hope to see all three men join in the line up in the coming weeks, they will need more from the healthy names on their roster if they plan on moving up in the standings.
This is the halfway point of the season; there is no time like the present to right this ship.
Sadly this season been not starting, then getting it started, rinse then repeat. As it stands the Ducks are out of the playoffs and I’m still standing behind that a coaching change is needed. Carlyle system worked when we had Pronger, without Pronger now RCs system isn’t working. But no
matter which way we slice it, this upcoming offseason is going be rebuilding time.
I completely agree here.
My point this season is that we’ve been trying to play a system that has worked for Carlyle in the past. However, the Ducks don’t have those type of players anymore. Carlyle has always been a defensive minded guy, but Murray built this team around an offensive minded structure. The two were clashing (when they were healthier) and now the team is just lost.
Nothing makes me feel the pain of this team’s faltering season more than playing the Sharks. Maybe because we have seen them so much this year, coupled with my contempt of JT.
It’s weird, but overall I was happy with the way the guys played last night, especially in the third, but it was too late and we got nothing in terms of breaks. I thoroughly enjoyed Belesky’s fight, which lifted my mood and I was happy that Giguere stayed in.
I think Help4Ducks is right, I’m not counting on the Ducks in the playoffs (though I haven’t totally given up), but maybe some major changes need to happen this summer.
I do think the injuries have hurt us, but I’m glad that we have “found” Sexton through them. It just seems like this is part of the game that we all have to struggle through. But a massive “YES” if all those players returned today we would definitely be on better ground.
Ah
JumboDumbo Joe. He’s one of those guys you hate because he’s not on your team. Gladly hate the guy, by the way.There were some tough breaks last night, the post, for example, didn’t help much. The third period was a definite change of pace for the Ducks. After getting those two goals, they found a bit of life in them. However, just like against Colorado and Phoenix and……….- they were up against a fantastic goaltender, which seems to be the case lately, doesn’t it?
I hope the Ducks don’t wait until the summer to make any changes. I’m with you, the playoffs seem out of the question (although I’m far from giving up as well)…unless something happens.
Ahh, the “want to win, get a rookie” mantra – I have some thoughts on that as well…but I’ll save them for later!
If they intend on staying with Carlyle then they will definitely need to do something with the defense. Without Pronger and Francois B. we are floundering. And Niedermeyer cannot skate alone. I personally think we should have kept Pronger or Francois B. instead of Niedermeyer but that is here nor there. I miss the hard hitting team we use to have and would very much like to see it back in some way. I also think with more defense our goaltending would drastically improve. I hate seeing Hiller and Jiggy dangling in the breeze with absolutely no help. I stll have hopes for the playoffs, though. They still seem to surprise me.
I just checked the Conference standings to see where the Ducks were at–Shocker! They aren’t in the basement! 8 points out of a playoff spot. Now, there are many teams ahead of them and I believe this will be a dogfight down to the last week just like last year. They certainly aren’t playing like a playoff team. We see glimpses and then they take 2 steps back….I agree they would be better without the injuries, but you know that’s just part of the game. Every team deals with it; the best teams overcome it.
The emotions that this team has put this fan through this year are hard to describe. Odd coaching decisions, lack of emotion from the players, I could go on and on–we all feel the same. And then there are the Olympics–what effect will it have on the team? The Ducks this year are such a question mark, that all I can do is watch and cheer for them, with the hope that they still have a chance at the playoffs, until they are mathematically eliminated.